Two layers of subcutaneous fat (the
deepest layer and the superficial layer)

One layer of visceral fat (the fat
within the abdominal area and organs)

The fat layer of skin
is located in the subcutaneous layer of tissue
called the Subcutis (or Hypodermis). This
thickness of the fat layer - which varies
greatly from one person to another depends on the
size and the number of fat cells.

Typically our bodies
have between 25 to 30 billion fat cells or
adipocytes. Fat is also known as adipose
tissue. Fat is essential to your body, as
without it we would not have any energy, we would
freeze in cold weather. We need some body fat
to help pad our bones so we are comfortable sitting
or laying down.

The body fat of an
adult tends to increase gradually over the years. After the age of thirty, fat starts to add fat
according to predetermined "genetic pattern". Sometimes this fat is resistant to diet and exercise
- such as a woman who has gone through pregnancy and
has fat now appearing on her abdominal area and
hips. Genetic predisposition with accumulating
excessive fat sometimes is not responsive to diet
and exercise and liposuction is the only realistic
answer to re-contouring the body's silhouette.

The job of a fat cell
is to store lipids in which provide the human body
with energy. Everything we eat is being
stored, and if a person does not exercise or is not
active and still eats the same amount, then the fat
cells will start building up.

Unfortunately
localized accumulation of fat can be genetically
linked - and can be impossible to reduce these areas
with exercise or dieting. Genetics play a big
role, as after the age of 30, a person gains weight
to a genetically pre-determined pattern. Liposuction is a huge help to patients like this, as
they can finally be able to change their body's
silhouette.

When a person gains
weight the human body does increase its fat cells. The normal fluctuations one might see in their
weight daily is associated with either an
incremental increase or decrease in the average size
of the individual fat cells. There is a
maximum size to what fat cells can grow. New
fat cells are created from "fibroblasts" if there is
a significant weight gain. When a person loses
substantial amount of weight by dieting, the fat
cells shrink in size but do not go away or diminish
in number.

If liposuction is
done on a patient who has been severely overweight
at one time, but lost it all by the time the
liposuction procedure
is suppose to be done - the surgeon will still have
to remove the same number of fat cells.

The food we ingest
does serve a purpose. Protein tends to
regenerate lean tissue, a carbohydrate helps with
"energy", and a fat protects the organs. When
there is a leftover amount of food that the body has
not used up, then this turns into extra fat. It is this fat that is stored in fat cells - which
cluster together to form adipose tissue or fat
tissue. We burn the fuel we need for energy,
but everything that is not burned gets turned into
triglycerides, which is basically fat.

Every human being
needs fat to survive. However, when the fat
cells become too excessive, the body starts to place
the extra fat in places like liver cells, muscle
cells and heart cells.

Liposuction is a tool
for body sculpturing in which the plastic surgeon
can help the patient with removing localized fat
from areas of the body. Liposuction is not
intended to be used as a tool for weight loss.
Liposuction is not a good option for patients who
have excess tissue or skin. If the patient has
excess tissue and skin, a body
lift or abdominoplasty
might be suggested.

Exercise, diet, and
healthy living are important components of any
specific type of fat treatment, including
liposuction.